taught me the importance of humility where possible. We all make
mistakes and I learnt very much
that it’s okay to make mistakes provided you learn from them. That
has been the ethos I have found
throughout my career, to be open
and honest and if you do make a
mistake then be honest about it
and learn from it.”

‘Don’t go making enemies’

At Scott Goff Layton & Co, Conn
met fund managers from GT
Management while undertaking
his industry exams. One day he
got a phone call from the firm
saying they were looking to set up
a centralised dealing desk. Conn
jumped at the opportunity. “They
asked if I would like to be a part
of that and I ended up joining at
the beginning of 1987,” he explains.

“It was an interesting time, inthose days there wasn’t any FIXconnectivity, it was all ledgers andspread sheets. It was a fast learningcurve but I am very proud of whatI learned at GT.”He oversaw the UK dealing busi-ness and over time took on a moresenior role in London. By 1991,Conn had moved to Hong Kongwith GT to re-establish a buy-sidetrading desk where he says it tooktime to adjust to the different cul-tures, but this was something Connsays he relished.

“In the very early days my bossPhilip Ray, who was the CEO of GTManagement in Hong Kong, tookme into a room and said, ‘Don’tget too cocky just because you’veon both the buy- and sell-sidethroughout his 30-year career, hehas become one of the most influ-ential buy-siders in Europe and acommunity voice of the profession.

Recognising this, The TRADE
handed Conn the coveted Lifetime
Achievement award at its Leaders
in Trading awards ceremony in
October .

As an award that occasionally
goes to an individual near the end
of his career, Conn was very quick
to assure us that his journey still
has a way to go yet as he takes Bal-lie Gifford into the new post-MiFID II world as head of trading for
the asset manager.

Conn started from the bottom –
as he described it – but has earned
his way to the top through his work
and reputation.

He points to his mentors and the
opportunities to have worked for
buy- and sell-side firms as having
enabled him to build up his expertise and stature within the industry.

He started life in the industry as
a Blue Button on the floor of the
London Stock Exchange with Scott
Goff Layton & Co just before the
Big Bang. A tough but enjoyable
role, Conn says he learnt a lot
during his time there.

“Back then you really did startat the bottom of the industry andevery new responsibility you weregiven, like putting prices on theboard, was something to cherish,”says Conn. “I think that first rolecome out here from London. Thereare a lot of people here who aregood at what they do and this is asmall town so don’t go making anyenemies!’ I’m a great believer inembracing different cultures andthat was an opportunity to do so.

It’s all been a constant but enjoy-able learning curve.”In 1994, GT Management was inthe process of being taken over andConn spent some time on the sell-side before moving back to Londonin 1998, working for InstinetEurope, which was very much atthe forefront of electronic tradingat the time.

It was during this time Conn

“Back then you really did start at the bottomof the industry and every new responsibilityyou were given, like putting prices on theboard was something to cherish.”